Baldassare Franceschini, called Il Volterrano

Sale, London, Sotheby's, 3 July 1980, lot 17 reproduced, bought by Duke Roberto Ferretti di Castelferretto;
his sale, London, Christie's, 2 July 1996, lot 20

Toronto, Art Gallery of Ontario and elsewhere, Italian Drawings from the Collection of the Duke Roberto Ferretti, 1985-86, no. 41, reproduced

Paper lighter and less blue-grey than in reproduction. Somewhat discolored around edges (though not as striking in illustration). Some repaired holes towards lower left. Slightly thin and discolored down crease in center. Some other light pink/brown stains towards left. Chalk nonetheless still very good and strong. Unframed.
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This study, once part of an album of drawings by Volterrano, is preparatory for the figure of Christ in the fresco of Saint Martin dividing his cloak with the beggar in the Palazzo Duca di San Clemente, Florence.  The fresco was painted around 1650 (see fig. 1).  A further study, possibly a first idea for this same figure, is in the Uffizi.¹

1. See A.M. Petrioli Tofani, Maestri del Sei e Settecento Toscano, Florence 1977, p. 37, no. 26, reproduced; (inv. no. 3381s)